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Side-by-side

Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Both are travel travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Chase at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors American Express Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureHilton Honors American Express CardChase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonusNot advertised75,000 points
Bonus value (est.)-$1,500
Min spend to unlock bonus-$5,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Hilton_hotels)7x1x
Transfer partnersNonechase-ur
Headline benefits
    • 5x on travel booked via Chase
    • 3x on dining & streaming
    • $50 annual hotel credit
    • Transfer to 13 partners (Hyatt 1:1)
    Read the full review
    Hilton Honors American Express Card
    $0/yr ·
    Read the full review
    Chase Sapphire Preferred
    $95/yr · 75,000 points

    Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Card

    Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred

    The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game. Note: the 10% anniversary points bonus sunsets October 1, 2026.

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors American Express Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
    The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a public bonus (75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500), while the Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn't advertise one right now.
    Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
    The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
    Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
    Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors American Express Card: no published min spend. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

    Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.